HOLLAND -- Dr. Stephen I. Hemenway of the Hope College faculty has been recognized for his quarter century as leader of the college's Vienna Summer School.

Hemenway received a Distinguished Service Award from the college on Wednesday, June 13, in Vienna. A professor of English at Hope, he has led the Vienna Summer School since 1976.

"The purpose for the Distinguished Service Award is to recognize him for 25 years of exemplary leadership of the Vienna Summer School program, as well as to acknowledge his outstanding record as a member of the faculty since 1972," said Dr. Jacob E. Nyenhuis, provost and professor of classics at Hope, who presented the award to Hemenway. The award was given during a reception at the Vienna Rathaus (City Hall) for students, Hope graduates and friends in Austria, and host families.

The Vienna Summer School itself, which is running May 20-July 4 this year, is also marking a milestone, celebrating its 45th anniversary. In addition, the Austro-American Institute of Education, with which the Hope program is affiliated, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The reception on Wednesday culminated a series of activities that had started on Friday, June 8, in commemoration of the two programs' anniversaries.

The Vienna Summer School enrolls students from colleges and universities around the country. More than 2,100 students from more than 180 colleges and universities have participated since its founding in 1956 by Dr. Paul Fried, and the program enrolled a record number of 87 student participants this year.

Consisting of two consecutive three-week sessions, the program offers students a choice of work in art history, communication, economics, Austrian history, music history, German and Austrian literature, Eastern European literature and a senior seminar, all taught in English, as well as courses in the German language, taught in German. Students are housed with Austrian families, and are free to plan their leisure time and take weekend excursions to places like Salzburg, Venice, Budapest, Prague and the Austrian Alps.

Hemenway received the Knight's Cross First Class, Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria in 1991 for his work with the program.

He has also received a variety of honors in recognition of his teaching. In 1999, he was one of 64 educators from around the world to receive an award for "Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Technology" during the "Tenth International Conference on College Teaching and Learning." In 1992, he was named Michigan's "Professor of the Year" by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In 1990, he received a "Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership" award.

In January of 2000, Hope presented him with the college's first annual "Vanderbush-Weller Development Fund" award, which recognizes and supports the efforts of Hope faculty and staff who make extraordinary contributions to the lives of students above and beyond what could be expected in their regular assignments. In 1977, he received the "Hope Outstanding Professor Educator" award from the graduating class.

His activities also include founding, and serving as faculty advisor for, the college's Environmental Issues Group.

Hemenway holds his bachelor's degree from College of the Holy Cross, a master's from Boston College and a doctorate from the University of Illinois.